A Dash Of Obedience

It was a lovely autumn day in Equestria. The air was cool and crisp, with the slightest chill to signify the season. The sky was full of sunlight and there wasn't a cloud to be seen. Many ponies were frolicking and grazing, doing whatever they enjoyed to bask in the wonderful sunny day. Celestia's sun sat high and bright and the denizens of Equestria were happy to partake in lovely sunshine as opposed to the usual brisk and rainy weather of fall.

However, three little fillies were spending the day together. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were deep in thought about their next shared activity, hoping to find their special talents. The Cutie Mark Crusaders yearned to finally earn their cutie marks. The filly trio had tried numerous activities during their tenure together and all were unsuccessful.

The CMC were currently at Fluttershy's Cottage, helping the pegasus mare with her critters. Scootaloo suggested the idea of ‘animal feeders’ as a possible cutie mark to her friends. The other two nodded their support and agreed to try.

"Think today is the day we finally get our cutie marks, girls?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Today is as good a day as any, right Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo chimed in.

"Yeah! We've had so many ideas, ah reckon one o' us mus' be get'n close ta discoverin' our special talent an' gettin’ their cutie mark!"

"Woohoo!" Sweetie Belle squealed exuberantly. "Come on, then! Let's help Fluttershy feed her animals and finally get our marks!"

All three shouted in unison.

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ANIMAL FEEDERS! YAY!"

The excited shouting of the trio caused the birds in Fluttershy’s parlor to chirp and squawk in hysteria. The yellow pegasus quickly rectified the issue with soft coaxing and a calm voiced demeanor. Fluttershy cleared her throat and the CMC rubbed the back of their heads bashfully.

"Sorry about that, Fluttershy." Scootaloo apologized.

"It's alright, girls. I know you're all excited, but please pay attention. This is very important."

The CMC were listening intently as Fluttershy instructed how much nourishment to give her critters. The bunnies, squirrels, and chickens all ate different amounts and types of food.

"Remember, girls! It's best to feed Angel Bunny and the other bunnies sliced carrots. If they have whole ones, they'll eat too fast and might get a tummyache. That'd be just awful."

The timid yellow pegasus pouted, thinking about her animal friends in distress, but quickly got back to the lesson.

"Elizabeak and the other chickens get two cupfuls of seed. There's a ladle and cups in the bag so feeding them will be a total breeze."

Fluttershy smiled at each member of the CMC before continuing.

"Oh! And the squirrels get a cup of berries and peanuts. Those lovely critters look so cute when they're munching. It makes me so happy watching them."

Apple Bloom spoke. "Thanks fer the lesson, Fluttershy! We'll feed em jus’ as ya say. You dun need tah worry!"

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both nodded and reaffirmed Apple Bloom's words.

"You bet! We'll make sure all your critters get fed!" Scootaloo chimed.

"Yeah! So take it easy, Fluttershy. The CMC are on it!"

The trio grinned happily at the yellow pegasus and Fluttershy returned it with a warm smile of her own.

"Thanks so much girls! I'm gonna take a small nap. This sunshine makes me a little sleepy."

"Sweet dreams, Fluttershy!" piped Sweetie Belle.

Fluttershy lay on the couch, resting her head gently on the pillow, and closed her eyes. She yawned before replying.

"Thank you, Sweetie Belle."

Apple Bloom gingerly walked to the kitchen and found the carrots Fluttershy kept on the counter. She quietly opened the drawer of utensils, removing a carrot slicer. The small yellow Earth Pony then took a bowl out of the dish cupboard and left the kitchen. She nodded to her fellow CMC members.

"Okay! Let's go!" Sweetie Belle whispered.

The three fillies tiphoofed out the front door and softly closed it.

"Alright! Let's feed some critters and finally earn our cutie marks!" Scootaloo squealed in delight.

"Yeah! Ah'll feed the bunnies. Sweetie can feed the squirrels. You shoul’ take care o' the chickens, Scootaloo. Ya know, cuz ya’ll totally related n' all."

"Ha-ha. Very funny, Apple Bloom." replied Scootaloo dully.

Apple Bloom playfully stuck out her tongue and Scootaloo giggled. The three friends shared a laugh and a hoof bump together and went their separate ways and got to work.

Apple Bloom walked around the side of Fluttershy's cottage to the rabbit hutch. The yellow-coated filly counted ten bunnies; the exact number Fluttershy gave her. She peered into the hutch and smiled, seeing them hopping and playing together.

"Ya’ll hungry?"

Hearing this, all bunnies hopped towards Apple Bloom, eager to see what treat they received.

"Fluttershy is takin’ a little nap righ' now, bu’ she instructed me ta give ya’ll cute critters some delicious n' juicy carrots."

The bunnies happily jumped and squeaked. Carrots were their favorite.

She carefully sliced the bushel of five carrots and placed an equal amount in each bowl, then opened the hutch to insert the dishes. Every bunny had nearly half a carrot to munch on. After she was done, Apple Bloom had an extra two sliced ones that she quickly gulped down.

"Good fer bunnies n' ponies! Very delicious. Go ahead n' eat up!"

That's just what the bunnies did while Apple Bloom watched with joy.

Sweetie Belle was in the back area of Fluttershy's Cottage. The diffident pegasus owned a large. stone-coated fish pond, colorful and lively birdhouses in nearly every tree, and a squirrel sanctuary too. All of the Sciuridae were chattering with each other. The unicorn filly approached the pack and addressed them.

"Hello, squirrels. Sweetie Belle is here to give you all some delicious berries and peanuts. Doesn't that sound yummy?"

The squirrels jumped in excitement and ran towards her. Sweetie giggled at their response.

"Fluttershy said a cupful for each of you. So no fighting, okay?"

Each squirrel nodded, signifying they understood. The rodents watched Sweetie fill ten cups with half berries and half peanuts. Their tummies grumbled.

"Okay, lovely critters! Snack time is here. Enjoy and Fluttershy will be around later on for dinner time!"

Sweetie placed the cups down and the squirrels began to dive in. The white-coated filly giggled at their eagerness.

Scootaloo entered the chicken coop. The coop had a pungent odor, but, aside from that, was immaculate. The purple-maned pegasus inched towards the chickens. Besides Elizabeak, Fluttershy had five others. All were present.

"Here, chickchickchickchick" Scootaloo squawked, trying to get their attention.

The chickens stared at each other momentarily, then glanced towards Scootaloo.

“I know Fluttershy is the one feeding you guys all the time, but the CMC wanted to give her a little rest. So I'll be taking care of snack time today. Is that cool?"

A few chickens simply clucked in response.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then."

Scootaloo found the bag of seed in the corner. She carefully took the ladle into her mouth and poured out a cupful of seed. It was an arduous task, but after ten minutes, twelve cupfuls of seed were measured and served. It took the chickens just half a minute to greedily devour what they were given.

"Wow. You all must've been super hungry, huh?"

Scootaloo chortled to herself then put the cups and ladle back into the bag of seed before departing the coop.

All three fillies met right outside Fluttershy's front door. They kept their voices to a whisper, to avoid possibly waking her.

"Anything, girls?” Asked Sweetie Belle.

"Not me. How about you, Apple Bloom?" Scootaloo inquired with a sad tone.

"Nope. Looks like we ain' meant tah be critter feeders."

All three fillies dejectedly sighed.

"Ugh. We've tried everything to get our cutie marks", began Scootaloo.

"Creature catchers, carpenters, comedy, chicken herding, chimney sweeping..."

"Karate, roller derby, jugglin', kite flyin'..." Added Apple Bloom.

"Magic tricks, newspaper reporters, even skydiving..." chimed Sweetie Belle.

"Nothin' has worked yet." Apple Bloom pouted.

The trio sat in silence for a few moments before a lightbulb went off in Scootaloo's mind.

"Wait! I just had a crazy idea."

Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom glanced at Scootaloo. Neither replied so the orange pegasus continued.

"We're all trying to get our cutie marks and discover our special talent, right?"

"Right." Sweetie and Apple Bloom said simultaneously.

"And uncovering our talent is a bit like treasure hunting. Following the map of what we think to do and chase our cutie mark."

"Uh. Where ya goin' with this, Scootaloo?" Apple Bloom inquired.

"Pfffft. Isn't it obvious, Apple Bloom? What if our special talent is treasure hunting? That'd be such an awesome cutie mark!"

Sweetie Belle's eyes widened in excitement and she raised a hoof in exclaimed surprise.

"Ooh! Ooh! I'm liking this idea a lot. That'd be super! We could be..."

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS TREASURE HUNTERS! YAY!"

The three fillies quickly covered their mouths from the outburst, hoping they didn't disturb Fluttershy's nap.

"So, where should we hunt for treasure first?” asked the white unicorn filly.

Scootaloo put her hoof to her chin to think, then quickly beamed and nodded.

"Think, Sweetie Belle. If you had treasure that you didn't want anypony to find, where would you hide it?”

Apple Bloom gave her friend an incredulous stare, squinted, and looked in both directions.

"Scootaloo, are ya saying..."

"Yep!"

"We're going in the..." Began Sweetie Belle.

"Everfree Forest. Exactly!" Scootaloo stated triumphantly.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle gulped. They were feeling nervous but also excited.

Fluttershy's Cottage was very close to the border of the Everfree Forest. It wasn't a long walk. The three ponies got there in less than five minutes and stood at the outskirts.

"Alright, you two ready to find some treasure and earn our cutie marks?” Scootaloo asked.

"Well, I'd be more rapturous if we didn't need to enter the forest to find treasure." Sweetie Belle replied, her ears flopping in worry.

"Rapturous? What are you, a dictionary?”

Apple Bloom put an arm around each of her friends and pulled them into a close embrace..

"C'mon, girls! We ain’ get’n no cutie marks standin’ around. So let’s go!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders all took a deep breath and walked forward, entering the forest.